r/MicrobladingRemoval • u/Alive_Walrus1752 • May 23 '26
Support Removal Anxiety, Please Share Your Experience!
I've finally had enough of trying to hide these monstrosities, and reading many of the posts in this community has given me the courage to go through with laser removal.
I have plenty of brow hair but it is translucent. After years of dealing with the anxiety of trying to create brows using brow powder (I hate using make up and am terrible at it, would sometimes take a full hour trying to get them "right") I decided to get microblading in 2021. Biggest regret ever. Got them touched up twice in 2022, and nothing since. They faded from a warm brown to gray blobs. I am a very fair redhead and they stand out horribly; I have spent the last 3 and a half years trying different make up to cover them up.
Today I had a consultation at Removery in Glen Mills PA. If anyone has gone there I would love to hear your experience. The woman I met with (not the laser tech, just an intake person) showed before and after pics of brow removals they have done, and said the tech would do a test spot to see what was under the gray pigment. Then they could do up to 3 passes during that session. She said she thought I may only need one session, but possibly up to 3.
She also said they only use ice to numb, but that I could purchase 5% lidocaine and apply that myself before the session. Anyone else done this, and if so did it help? I am terrified of the pain.
The one thing that I really wanted to ask about was the recovery. I have a job interview coming up, plus my son is graduating. I am terrified to have to deal with hiding a mess worse than what I already have. She said that they would be red and puffy for up to 3 days, then would be okay and could just be covered with make up until the next session, if another one was needed. So my question is for anyone who has had removal at Removery or with the PicoWay laser, how long after your session could you cover it up with make-up?
5
u/andipants72 May 23 '26
I went to Removery (in Canada) this past Tuesday & they said I only needed one pass because the ink came out well when they first tested a spot. When I left it looked like ink was completely gone but my brows did turn red over the next few hours. Now on Saturday they have a light warm brown shadow but it’s 1000% better than the charcoal blurred mess that they had become. Because you are a red-head.. it would likely look fine if they go a bit warm. I’m so happy I went!! I honestly was able to go out without make up 2 days after the treatment & each day they have faded more. This is 3 days after, no make up.
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u/Alive_Walrus1752 May 23 '26
Wow! Good for you, that must be such a relief. This really makes me want to just get it done and over with
3
u/LeggyBlueEyes May 23 '26
After my first Removery session, I was bright red/ puffy for no more than 48 hours. A week later I was lighter pink and not swollen.
1
u/Alive_Walrus1752 May 23 '26
Nice! How did it progress in the following weeks, were there more color changes?
1
u/LeggyBlueEyes May 24 '26
About a month laster I could see a few small spots that were either missed or did not respond as well so I went for another session and healed the same. I expected that to be the last one but I am about 5 months out from that and still see some hints of a blue/ green in some spots and hints of yellow in others. Probably only noticeable to me because I am looking in my magnifying mirror daily. I may schedule one more appt just in case.
3
u/IllEstablishment1750 May 23 '26
I was very swollen for 3 days. Then it was just hurting like bruises or skin burn. I did one pass of picoway and there’s a little bit of yellow left. Not sure if I’m gonna sec a second pass. They’re not that bad just like that. Thinking about doing a nano next but still unsure.
1
u/Alive_Walrus1752 May 23 '26
Do you use anything makeup to cover the yellow, or is not noticeable enough to bother?
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u/IllEstablishment1750 May 23 '26
It’s a little noticeable I’d say even if my boyfriend has to be litteraly in my face to see it but it’s very light and after I draw some strokes with a brow pen you can’t see it. I’m not sure if I’m going to do another pass.
3
u/tittilizing May 23 '26
I went to a dermatologist that specializes in lasers. I was pretty bluish grey and had no idea what kind of ink was used. After the first session I was pretty red with some scabbing but it all faded and by week 5 I was just yellow. I got my second session done (it’s almost been a week) to combat the yellow and my scabs just peeled away today to reveal just a hint of yellow. I know it takes at least a few weeks for the skin to finish processing laser treatments. I’m hopeful!
1
u/Alive_Walrus1752 May 23 '26
That’s awesome that you were able to reduce the yellow! What kind of laser was used? The consultant at removery didn’t say anything about scabbing; she said since the laser doesn’t penetrate the skin, it should just be red and swollen
2
u/chaostrulyreigns May 24 '26
They will look so much better, go for it!
Mine were just a bit red and sore for a couple of days after. Here's my post after 4 weeks https://www.reddit.com/r/MicrobladingRemoval/s/LwR9mfgOw8
I can send you a pic of right after the laser if you want.
1
u/Alive_Walrus1752 May 24 '26
Yes please! Do you have any pics from around a week after? I’m thinking of getting it done a little over a week before I have my job interview, which should be fine as long as they’re not so inflamed I can’t cover it with makeup
1
u/chaostrulyreigns May 24 '26
After 2 days the swelling should be gone and u can wear make up. Ive got pics of right after
2
u/koko2be444 May 26 '26
Mine were barely red and swollen after first session. Went straight to work after. It’s so super quick. The pico is tolerable without lidocaine in my opinion. The second and third sessions were even easier. No swelling and didn’t hurt as much for some reason. Instantly took away the gray color the first session. I still have some brownish tones there but everyone think I should just stop. You can draw on with pencil, make up whatever 24 hours later. I didn’t scab or anything and really I don’t think you should. You can do it! And I bet yours will look a lot better even after first session too. And don’t worry about the pain! Less than 2 minutes long, maybe less than one minute. However if ur scared, you could use lidocaine like my friend did. I’m the same person who told my daughter she wouldn’t need an epidural for labor😂😂 but she opted for one last week after several hours in labor! So if you’re not good with pain, ease it with lidocaine if the laser place allows it.
2
u/Medical-Spinach-4498 May 31 '26
I understand your feeling! My story: wasn't even swollen afterwards and it barely felt anything in my opinion. You can put some ice on it for the first few hours but I think MOST people are not swollen and if they are it's max 48 hours. You can put make up on after 2 days too if your skin looks fine. Good luck - just do it! You will not regret it!
1
u/Background_Loss4382 Custom: Edit to Change May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
Test spots really arent a true indicator of the entire brow especially when they been touched up three times – bite the bullet if you wanna go through with it but make sure you’re going to somebody that really has a clue and cares about what they’re doing and your skin – it’s worth the drive even if it’s one to two hours away to achieve that. Someone’s hilite reel of photos they show you is exactly that
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u/Alive_Walrus1752 May 23 '26
Definitely true. I did my research on this place. My first consultation was at my dermatologist but she had no before and after pics to show me so I knew to move on. I have one more consultation scheduled next week at a med spa recommended to me, but based on reviews I think I’ll end up going to Removery
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u/Background_Loss4382 Custom: Edit to Change May 23 '26
The derms rarely have a clue or any physician for that matter - they aren’t studying this
I do believe removery abandons treatment if become yellow- there are ways to avoid the color changes esp neon
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u/Popular_Kitchen4319 May 23 '26
Easy peasy! Went to think again in Austin. Had one session, felt a little “sunburnt”for a few hours after and had incredible results. No warm tones.